Count Basie - The Complete Decca Recordings

Ellington's band had more grace and sophistication, but no big band swung harder than the incomparable Basie band. Recorded between 1937 and 1939, these 63 classics feature a cornucopia of legendary musicians: Herschel Evans' big-toned, earthy tenor balances Lester Young's ethereal tenor. Harry "Sweets" Edison's soaring blares complement Buck Clayton's muted trumpet. Jimmy Rushing's nasal, booming operatics contrast with Helen Humes's precise elegance. The Freddie Green-Walter Page-Jo Jones rhythm section flawlessly anchors the driving 4/4 rhythm. And, of course, there's the leader's minimalist piano, using just the right, essential mix of boogie-woogie and stride. These three CDs are peppered with what would become jazz standards and should be a cornerstone of any music library. --Marc Greilsamer Amazon.com

And so it begins...

I didn't think I would like this set very much, but I couldn't find anything written anywhere that said anything bad about these classic Decca recordings. In fact, most sources consider this a "cornerstone" of a jazz music collection and The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings: Eighth Edition (Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings) makes this part of their "core collection". Rightly so. The sound is terrific, the music is wonderful, and Basie and his players sound like they were having fun when they were ripping through these classic tunes. I went in with high expectations and low hopes, but my expectations were more than met and my lack of faith unjustified. This is another "must have" compilation for any jazz enthusiast. March 7, 2008

Amazing sound quality

Others have commented on the music. I want to talk about the sound quality. It's unbelievable! There is almost no scratch, pop, or surface noise on any of these CDs. And they didn't just roll off the highs. You can hear everything. Even the hi-hat, so important in swing music and so often cut out by noise reduction, is right there at all times. Hard to believe these were recorded in the 1930s. September 12, 2007

There's a Budget Alternative

If you find the price or quantity of material here daunting, be aware there is a single CD The Best of Early Basie that is culled from this box set. Same fine remastering December 4, 2006

Superb Box Set

This is my favorite Swing band in one of it's most memorable periods. The three cd set is in overall great sounding quality. The big asset here is the highly informative accompanying booklet with discography. There is a noticable error in the booklet on the photo caption page 17. That photo is obviously NOT in "San Francisco 1939" but rather at "The Famous Door" NYC (compare it to the photo on page 19 - look closely at the background). "The Famous Door" was noted for it's crowded setting and mirrored ceiling. Also i doubt the photo on pg 22 is "The Famous Door" (perhaps that is San Francisco...who knows).

But if you want a comprehensive Basie Box Set during the 1930's at a great price pick this one up. April 9, 2006

Almost perfect

This is a GREAT band, GREAT set; my only beef is that many of the records are not pitch corrected. Any remastering engineer should be conscious of the fact that the Basie band didn't often (if ever) play in three or four sharps, and that 78 rpm is only a starting point for pitching shellac records. Finding the correct pitch (all too common a problem) makes a huge difference to the perception of a performance, and these engineers missed the boat a lot on this set. Bring in some musicians, guys, You need help here! December 3, 2005

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